August 22, 2006 – Blake Lively comes from an acting family with her own unique talent. She is known best for her film debut of Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants playing soccer player Bridget. After being at the top of her school and participated in the National Show Choir, Lively is now ready to take Hollywood by storm with her upcoming dark romantic comedy of Elvis and Anabelle and a new horror movie Simon Says that was produced by her father, Ernie Lively, who’s also an actor himself.
Accepted is now out in theaters!
Johnny: A lot of fans ask this question: Will there be a sequel to “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants,” and will you come back to you role of Bridget if you sign on?
Blake Lively: I would love more than anything to do a sequel! We’ve heard sequel murmurs hear and there, but as far as I know , there is none in the works yet. But, if you keep buying DVDs there just might be!
Johnny: How was working with Mike Vogel, your on screen love interest Eric Richman?
Blake Lively: It was wonderful! He’s a really nice guy . He always teased me for loving Britney spears =( but we had a good time. HIs wife is great too . She is very very sweet!
Johnny: Have you kept in touch with your “Sisterhood” co-stars?
Blake Lively: Yes! We’re all very busy , but the great thing about the friendships that we made is that we can go without speaking for a few months and then when we do see eachother or call one another it’s like no time has gone by at all. We all know how crazy are lives are and how much we love eachother , so there is never any pressure or hard feelings.
Johnny: What was your experience working on the set of “Accepted”? Was it different from other stuff you’ve done?
Blake Lively: Accepted was pretty much one big 3 month party! Every single member of that production was so nice and fun and great to work with! It seems like on a set with over 100 people there must be at least one bad egg , but there was not one person that I didn’t enjoy! As far as the cast , we would have dance parties and board game battles in eachothers trailers , or intense debates in the hair and make up trailer on everything from wars ,and Hurrican Katrina, to Brangelina! = ) We would come to work everyday and surrounded by a half pipe, tiki bar, pool, etc.. what more could you ask for?!! And they called that work?! We would just hang out on set all the time, how could you not?! Almost every scene was improve so every take was different which made it fun and interesting. How lucky was I to get to work with sooo many funny people?! I laughed my butt off all day every day! It was such an amazing AMAZING experience!!
Johnny: You mentioned before you had a one day shoot for the movie “Simon Says.” Can you tell me about your character and what you did in the scene?
Blake Lively: Simon Says is a fun teen horror movie that my dad produced . My boyfriend, Kelly and I went up to visit set and while we were there my dad said , “Hey why don’t you be in the movie!” So we said “Great!” I played a girl named “Jenny” that is a part of the next generation teens that may get caught up in Simon’s murdering game. We had a few lines and the honor of working with Crispin Glover (which was incredible) and that’s about all I did. It was fun and I hear that the movie is really cool!
Johnny: In your new film, “Elvis and Anabelle,” your character dies and comes back to life. Whoa! What made you want to do this film that is so different from your other characters?
Blake Lively: I think that all actors that are in productions for the art and challenge , rather than the fame and money , try to play different roles. “Elvis and Anabelle” is one of the best scripts I have ever read! Not only is it an amazing and touching story , but the charecters are so layered and interesting. One of the biggest attracions for me was that the role of Anabelle is such a strong person. Most female roles are written to either compliment the powerful male role , or to be a pretty piece of flesh for the audiences’s viewing pleasure. Neither of which I would like to make a career off of . So, with such a great character and story and cast , how could I not want to be in that film?!
Johnny: What is the main premise of “Elvis and Anabelle”?
Blake Lively: “Elvis and Anabelle” is about a young mortician (Max Minghella) , who takes care of his disabled father (Joe Mantagna) since his mother’s suicide , and a Texas beauty queen (me) , who is dying of bulemia , all the while trying to cope with her over obsessive stage mom (Mary Steenburgen) and her sexually abusive stepfather (Keith Carradine). It is their story of how they overcome their dark pasts and find an amazing love. It is such a beautiful and romantic story . I am so blessed to have been a part of that film. It really is something very special.
Johnny: If you had a role to play in a movie, what would it be and why?
Blake Lively: I would love to be a a period piece film! Something from the Elizabethan era , or a 1930’s murder mystery. My all time goal is to be in a Baz Lurhman film. His films are like nothing I have ever seen! They are masterpieces!!!
Johnny: Are there thoughts on producing/directing your own movie project?
Blake Lively: In the future I would love to be on the other side of the camera. For now I’m still learning how my side works = )
Johnny: Are there any plans of working with your siblings in a movie one day?
Blake Lively: I would love to !!! It might be a problem though because I get “hacked” (a southern expression for embarrassed) around them. ={ They are so soo talented and experienced that I get soo shy whenever I have them help me on a project! My sister Robyn worked with me for about 10 hours a day, every day for a few weeks before I left to do “Elvis and Anabelle” . I ended up throwing pencils at her when she would try to make me do a line for her. = ) I’m naturally a verrry shy person. So, to answer your question , if I did have the honor of working with one of them, the director just might kill me because it would be so hard to get any acting out of me! = )